Noah awoke with a start. His clock glowed 7:00 a.m. The space beside him was empty.

  He sighed and draped an arm over his face.

  He hadn’t slept properly. Not without Micah.

  Three weeks — that’s all it took for his body to get used to Micah’s warmth beside him. Now the pillow felt like a rock.

  It had only been a day since the rooftop.

  A day since they kissed.

  A day since Micah pulled away like he’d made a mistake.

  Noah wished he’d never initiated it.

  Wished they’d never gone to that party.

  Wished he wasn’t terrified of losing Micah now.

  Maybe he doesn’t like me. Maybe he only sees me as comfort. Not… anything more.

  Who am I kidding? Who could ever love me? Daniel didn’t. He left me for Clara.

  And why did Micah cover his mouth that night? He said “instincts,” but what does that even mean?

  Noah dragged himself out of bed and into the bathroom. His reflection looked worse than he expected — dark circles, tired eyes, messy hair.

  He hadn’t slept in days.

  He changed into shorts and a white t?shirt.

  Micah’s shirt.

  Not that Noah would ever admit that to himself.

  When he entered the kitchen, Micah was pacing — ears twitching, tail flicking, fidgeting like he couldn’t stand still. The couch behind him was a mess from where he’d slept.

  Micah looked up. A small smile formed… then faded into concern when he saw Noah’s face.

  “Good morning…” Noah whispered, avoiding his eyes.

  Micah stepped closer but didn’t touch him.

  Noah’s stomach twisted.

  He took the distance as regret.

  As rejection.

  He didn’t need labels.

  He just needed someone to stay.

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  Someone to love him.

  Someone to not leave.

  Breakfast passed in silence.

  Then Noah changed into his work uniform, grabbed his bag, and headed for the door — only for Micah to block it, wearing a hoodie and a beanie.

  “I’ll walk you to work.”

  “N?no… please stay home. I don’t want you getting in trouble.”

  “Noah, I can take care of myself.”

  Noah looked away.

  Micah frowned. “Are you okay?”

  “I?I’m fine. Just… stay home, okay?”

  Micah didn’t argue. Instead, he pulled Noah into a hug, burying his face in Noah’s neck.

  Noah’s breath hitched, cheeks flushing.

  Micah, meanwhile, was spiraling.

  If only Noah knew how hard this was.

  How close Micah was to losing control of instincts he barely understood.

  He pulled away quickly, turning his face aside so Noah wouldn’t see the way his teeth had sharpened again.

  He waved goodbye and let Noah leave.

  ---

  Meanwhile, at home…

  Micah lay on the couch, exhausted.

  Noah wasn’t the only one who hadn’t slept.

  His ears drooped. His body hid fatigue better than a human’s, but he was running on instinct alone.

  He needed distance.

  He needed control.

  He was entering a dangerous stage — one he’d been warned about back home.

  His instincts were heightened.

  His emotions sharper.

  His reactions unpredictable.

  And after the kiss… something had changed.

  Noah carried Micah’s scent now — the scent that marked someone as important, someone to protect.

  Micah didn’t know how to handle that.

  He wanted to stay mark Noah.

  Too much.

  But humans weren’t meant to mate with werewolves.

  His father would—

  A crash shattered the thought.

  Glass exploded across the dining room floor as three figures tumbled through the window.

  Micah’s first thought: Burglars.

  He grabbed the nearest object he could use as a weapon—

  “Big brother!!”

  Micah froze.

  Nico barreled into him, hugging him tightly.

  Micah stared in disbelief.

  Nico.

  His father.

  Kael.

  “What— Dad?! Kael?! NICO?! What is happening?!”

  “We have come to rescue you from the human keeping you prisoner,” his father announced proudly, as if he hadn’t just broken into a house and destroyed a window.

  Noah was going to kill him.

  “Prisoner? What? I’m not being held prisoner! I’m here because I want to be!”

  “Where’s that vicious human? I’ll kill them!” the chief growled, cracking his knuckles.

  Micah had a sinking feeling no one was listening.

  “Come on, big brother! We’re going home!”

  “B?but—”

  “My people will be so happy!” the chief boomed.

  “Bu—”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t kill the human.”

  “Dad! I don’t want to leave! M?my human is still here — I can’t leave without him!”

  “What?” Nico blinked at him.

  The chief’s expression darkened.

  “Kael.

  Get.

  The.

  Rope.”